LOCAL MP Mike Amesbury is calling for more financial support for local businesses as one Frodsham pub landlord fears his electricity bill could rise to £7,000 a month.
Mr Amesbury says pubs and shops are crying out for Government financial support to survive the astronomical hike in energy bills.
He is backing the call from concerned publicans, independent retailers and care homes impacted in the local area. Churches and charities within his Weaver Vale constituency have also been in touch.
Phil Miller, landlord of the 400-year-old Ring O’Bells pub in Frodsham fears his electricity bill could rise by an extra £7,000 per month putting the business under considerable strain.
Mr Amesbury said: “I think we should be looking at some sort of targeted business support such as extended Business Rate relief, a reduction in VAT and transitional grants similar to those issued during Covid.
“Grants could be administered by local authorities using existing databases because they managed to get the money out of the door quickly last time.
“This approach could help small and medium-sized businesses such as pubs, restaurants, cafés and shops but also the third sector – such as churches and charities.”
Mr Amesbury argues the new Prime Minister must make it a priority to provide more support to everyone impacted by the staggering energy price rises.
He says Government should consider extending the energy price cap to non-domestic energy users funded through extra taxes on the additional £170bn-plus profits forecast to made by oil and gas giants in the next two years.
The parliamentarian added: “There’s only so much businesses can pass on to the customer during this cost-of-living crisis by putting up prices.
“People are feeling the pinch and thinking about cutting back, not only on their energy use but also their general expenditure.”
Devonshire Bakery, which has outlets in Frodsham, Runcorn and Weaverham, has also contacted the MP.
Managing director Robert Crowther told him: “As an energy-intensive business, we find ourselves in a perilous situation.
“The huge increase in energy bills, in some cases an increase of up to 400% on current contracts, no support from the government by way of an energy cap and further unaffordable costs driven by record inflation, will see independent high street businesses close.
“Small businesses are the ‘daily visit’ for many consumers. Craft baker shops are at the centre of their local community, key to footfall on high streets, suburban shopping parades and employers in their area.”
Meanwhile, the cost of cooking mills at the Ring O’Bells the cost of cooking the meals is about to go through the roof.
Phil says the pub’s electricity bill alone could rocket from £2,000 to £9,000 per month when his current contract finishes at the end of January.
He said: “You could put prices up but that would stop people coming out so would mean fewer customers.”
Phil feels the pressure even more because the pub is a family affair. Among the 15 staff it employs are his daughter, son and son-in-law.
He added: “It’s such a nice business. We don’t want to walk away.”
Pictures show Mike with baker Andrew Harvey outside the Devonshire Bakery in Frodsham and with Phil Miller, landlord of The Ring O’Bells pub in Frodsham.